NDC MPs want Kennedy Agyapong Investigated

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Minority group in Parliament has called on the Minister of the Interior, Ambrose Dery, to investigate the Member of Parliament for the Assin North constituency, Kennedy Agyapong over claims that he is able to manipulate the Police Service by getting them to recruit his constituents.

The group also want all recruits whose selection might have been influenced by Kennedy Agyapong be out-rightly withdrawn as it creates the impression that rather than merits personnel of the police service are recruited on political lines, a move they consider dangerous to the country’s democratic system.

The NDC legislators want President Akufo-Addo to condemn and reprimand Kennedy Agyapong who has been described widely as a leading member and financier of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The call was contained in a press statement issued on Friday afternoon and signed by James Agalga who is the ranking Member of the Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament. It was in reaction to an attack by Kennedy Agyapong on the Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Col. Aggrey Quarshie on Oman FM’s ‘Boiling Point’ programme, to the effect that he (Kennedy Agyapong) will protest and make ‘noise’ if the GAF fail to give him preferential treatment by enlisting his constituents like the police Service had done for him.

“The Minority commends highly, the High Command of the Ghana Armed Forces for demonstrating courage, fortitude and a high sense of professionalism in the face of threats, outright provocation, insults and intimidation by a demagogue such as Kennedy Agyapong for daring to set the records straight regarding how Ghanaian Citizens can be recruited to join the ranks of our noble Armed Forces,” Agalga’s statement reads in part.

The full statement is published below:

PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO MUST CALL KENNEDY AGYAPONG TO ORDER AND STOP THE UNWARRANTED ATTACKS ON THE GHANA ARMED FORCES

The attention of the Minority in Parliament has been drawn to the unsavoury and abominable comments made by Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, NPP MP for Assin North against the person of Col. Aggrey Quarshie, the P.R.O. of the Ghana Armed Forces and by extension the entire Armed Forces of Ghana on an Oman FM radio talk show known as ‘boiling point ‘ on the 4th day of April, 2018.

The attack unleashed on the Armed Forces by Hon. Kennedy Agyapong appears to have been provoked by a statement made by Col. Aggrey Quarshie on behalf of the Ghana Armed Forces to the effect that ,” enlistment of applicants into the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF ) is always based on merit not political influence or any other means”.

The Col’s statement it is important to note was made in response to threats made by Hon. Kennedy Agyapong in an earlier radio programme to the effect that if the Armed Forces were to fail to give him preferential treatment by enlisting his constituents like the police Service had done, he will make ‘noise’ in protest.

The logical deduction to make from the unfortunate outburst of Hon. Kennedy Agyapong is that he is able to manipulate the Police Service by getting them to recruit his constituents in total disregard of any qualification criteria set for recruitment and expects the military to do likewise.

The Minority in Parliament condemns the politicization of recruitment into the Police Service under the watch of an NPP government in light of Kennedy Agyapong’s confession. We call upon the Minister of the Interior to as a matter of urgency cause Kennedy Agyapong to be investigated forthwith and brought to book. Further, would be recruits whose selection may have been influenced by Kenendy Agyapong should be withdrawn forthwith.

The Minority commends highly, the High Command of the Ghana Armed Forces for demonstrating courage, fortitude and a high sense of professionalism in the face of threats, outright provocation, insults and intimidation by a demagogue such as Kennedy Agyapong for daring to set the records straight regarding how Ghanaian Citizens can be recruited to join the ranks of our noble Armed Forces.

The Minority further notes with the deepest of regret the denigration of both serving and retired personnel of our Armed Forces including former President Rawlings by Kennedy Agyapong who seems to suggest in his outburst that when soldiers retire from active service they are only fit to work as “security guards.”

The Minority appreciates the sacrifices the Officers, Men and Women of our Armed Forces have made and continue to make towards our country’s overall development and will therefore call upon President Akufo-Addo who doubles as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to as a matter of grave importance condemn and reprimand Kennedy Agyapong who is a leading member and financier of his party.

His Excellency the President must also underscore the need for the Military and Civilians to cultivate mutual respect for one another in order to engender high morale within the ranks of our noble Armed Forces.

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